If you love a thick, cheesy slice of deep dish pizza but want something easier to make at home, this deep dish pizza casserole is going to hit the spot. It has everything you crave in a classic pizza, including savory meat, rich sauce, and plenty of melted cheese, all layered into a hearty baked dish. It is cozy, filling, and perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or feeding a hungry crowd.
What makes this recipe especially great is how simple it is to throw together. You do not need to mess with complicated dough techniques or wait for anything to rise. Instead, you get all those bold pizza flavors baked into a casserole that slices beautifully and reheats well. This is one of those recipes that feels indulgent but is still practical for everyday cooking.
If you like more Weight Watcher dinner recipes please check out 30 Weight Watcher Recipes for Dinner, Delicious Weight Watchers Recipes with Ground Beef, or How to Cook Ground Beef!
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Why You Will Like This
- Tastes like deep dish pizza without the hassle of making traditional crust
- Easy to customize with your favorite pizza toppings
- Great for meal prep and leftovers
- Family friendly and picky eater approved
- Uses simple, budget friendly ingredients
- Perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and hearty texture
Ingredients for Deep Dish Pizza
- Lean Gound beef - Adds a rich, savory base. You can use mild or spicy sausage depending on your preference.
- Stewed Tomatoes - Brings that classic pizza flavor. Use your favorite jarred sauce or homemade.
- Pizza Toppings - I have only tried this recipe as a meat lovers style pizza. The only other pizza type I can think of that would work well with this would be Taco.
- Refrigerated Pizza Dough - Make your own favorite dough recipe if you don’t want to use the canned pizza dough. If you're low carb use a recipe like Fat Head Dough.
- See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Other Pizza Toppings to try: Candian bacon, pineapple, jalapenos, anchovies, and even fruits such as apples and pears.
Substitution Tips
You can swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken to lighten things up. If you want to keep it vegetarian, skip the meat and add mushrooms, olives, or spinach. Cottage cheese or ricotta can also be layered in for a creamier texture.
How to Make Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°.
Step 2: Cook meat in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring until it crumbles. Drain, if necessary, and return to skillet. Add tomatoes and seasoning, cook until heated through.
Step 3: While meat cooks, coat a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Unroll pizza crust dough, and press into bottom and halfway up sides of the baking dish. Top the pizza crust with meat mixture.
Step 4: Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 12 minutes. Top with cheese, and then pepperoni, and bake 5 minutes or until crust is browned and cheese melts. Cool 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with a salad mixed field greens and a fat-free or low-fat vinaigrette.
Cut into 8 equal pieces. Serving size: 1 piece.
Pro Tips
- Do not overpack the dough layer. Leave a little space so it can cook through properly.
- Use a glass or ceramic baking dish for even heating.
- If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover with foil during the last 10 minutes.
- Letting the casserole rest before cutting helps it hold its shape better.
- Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This casserole reheats very well, making it great for meal prep.
To reheat, place a portion in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or warm it in the oven at 350 degrees until heated through.
You can also freeze this casserole. Wrap it tightly or store in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this deep dish pizza casserole with a simple side salad or roasted vegetables to balance out the richness. Garlic bread or breadsticks are also a great addition if you want a full pizza night experience.
For a lighter option, pair it with a crisp cucumber salad or steamed broccoli. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes or fresh basil on top can also add a fresh and flavorful finish.
Recipe FAQS
Yes just brown the ground beef and let it cool. Then assemble the casserole and cover it with saran wrap. Bake it the day you plan on making it.
Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.
The dish typically consists of a starch, such as rice or pasta, along with vegetables, meat, and a sauce or soup. The ingredients are usually layered in a baking dish and then baked in the oven until the dish is fully cooked. Casseroles are often a one-pot meal that can be prepared ahead of time and then baked just before serving
Other Weight Watcher Recipes to Try
If you tried this Deep Dish Pizza Casserole orany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
- Prep Time: 5min
- Cook Time: 18min
- Total Time: 23min
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Weight Watchers Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef 96/4 or higher
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (.6oz) packet of Italian Seasoning Mix (dry)
- cooking spray (Pam)
- 1 (10oz) can refrigerated pizza dough
- 6 ounces shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 10 - 20 slices of pepperoni
- Parsley flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°.
- Cook meat in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring until it crumbles. Drain, if necessary, and return to skillet. Add tomatoes and seasoning, cook until heated through.
- While meat cooks, coat a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Unroll pizza crust dough, and press into bottom and halfway up sides of the baking dish. Top the pizza crust with meat mixture.
- Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 12 minutes. Top with cheese, and then pepperoni, and bake 5 minutes or until crust is browned and cheese melts. Cool 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with a salad mixed field greens and a fat-free or low-fat vinaigrette.
- Cut into 8 equal pieces. Serving size: 1 piece.
Notes
WW Points: 7 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅛th of the pan
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 2g
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
Jean says
Tasted like pizza. I used chicken sausage. Next time May add mushrooms and use turkey pepperonis. My husband had 3 pieces!!
Jenna says
If you have the recipe builder that comes with WW app that will definitely tell you. 😉
Jennifer Ferry says
Would this be less points if you used turkey or chicken ground meat and turkey pepperoni and the 2 ingredient dough with self rising flour and Greek yogurt?
Richard says
Hello, I am Richard, owner of https://thekitchenmania.com
thanks for sharing such delicious looking recipe. i am just wondering how did you remember such an old dish.
Jenna says
Thanks for sharing Suzanne!
Suzanne says
Wow! Total hit with my family. Will make again! I served it with a side salad. Perfect amount of food for dinner.
Hannah says
Would this freeze ok?
Genella Hudgins says
I do the Deep Dish Pizza Casserole and we love it. I recently substituted 99% fat free turkey for the beef and we actually liked it better than the beef. I use tomato sauce rather than the chunky Italian tomatoes and add some Italian seasoning.
Sarah Allbritton says
I just rejoined weight watchers. I need some sugar free recipes because my husband and I are both insulin dependenr diabetics. I use Splenda for sweetner. I have a 13 yr old daughter that is prediabetic as well.